It was 13 years ago when the Reverend Dana-Beth Wells-Goodwin, Peggy Pinkham and I walked the halls of St. Andrews Village to find a home for the newly established VIP. VIP is an acronym for Visually Impaired Persons.

The project had just been given an encouraging go ahead from All Saints and St. Columba’s churches’ Outreach committee. The mission was to bring knowledge of the services, equipment and technology for the blind available in the state to the visually impaired in the region and to offer a time for personal sharing and socialization to those dealing with a disability that often leads to feelings of isolation.

We met for the first time in April of 2001 at St. Andrews Village with Rev. Dana Beth, pastor of the Harbor Methodist Church, as the first facilitator. I facilitate the meetings now with the Reverend Mary Jo Zimmerli bringing in wonderful humorous stories and prepping us with histories of the holidays. Special guests are teachers for the blind from the state office and the Iris network, representatives of the newest equipment and technology available for the blind, medical professionals and for several visits the state librarian who runs our beloved federal “Talking Books” program here in Maine along with other guests of interest.

The jewel of the VIP is the reading and recording of the Boothbay Register by volunteers in the community to produce an audio version of the paper for those who cannot read regular print. This project is administered by Wells Moore who provides the recording digital equipment and distributes the readings. They say the equipment is a breeze to use. Another gem of our projects is that in the summer members of the VIP plant and help to maintain the sensory garden at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens with the help of a horticultural therapist.

Now, 12 years after that first meeting in April at St. Andrews Village, we celebrate this April with a birthday lunch at the home of our initial sponsor, St. Columba’s Church. We will have birthday cake but probably forgo the balloons! The VIP welcomes all who are dealing with loss of sight, caring for the blind or is interested in reading for the blind. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at St. Andrews Village. You can call me at 207-633-2498 for more information.